Garment press



H. E. PAGE 'GARMENT PRESS Feb. 4, 1930.

Filed May 22, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb.y 4, 1930. f H E. PAGE 1,745,809

GARMENT PRESS Filed May.. 22.' 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 4, 1930. H, E, PAGE 1,745,809

GARMENT PRESS` Filed May. 22, 1924 4 sheetsheef 4 Patented Feb. 4, 1930 PATENT oFFlcE vE. PAGE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES HOFFMAN HACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F DELAWARE GARMENT PRESS Application ined May 22,

This invention pertains to garment presses, the construction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the annexed drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the structure, the pressing elements being shown intheir pressing relation;

Fig. 2 a similar view with the head in its elevated position, certain of the steam pipes being omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 a side elevation of the lower part of the structure as seen from the\.opposite side from that in the preceding figures;

Fig. 4c a sectional elevation ofthe treadle lock and the adjusting mechanism therefor;

Fig. 5 a t'op plan view of the main treadle and the release pedal;

Fig-6 a vertical sectional view of the treadle locking mechanism;

Fig. 7 a plan view'of the head supporting lever;A

Fig. 8 a perspective view of the unitary main frame; and

Fig. 9 a rear elevation ofa portion of the '25 ymain frame and a portion of the toggle mechanism.

The structure forming the basis of the invention presents numerous advantages some of whichwill now be specifically pointed out 3o and others of which will be apparent'from the description which follows.

In garment presses of the type herein set forth it is desirable that the head be moved as far away from the buck and to the rear thereof as is consistent with ease of operation in the closing of the press, this in order that the operator may readily secure a proper lay of the garment upon the buck, and particularly along the rear edge thereof. The present struct-ure ensures such clearance between the -buck and head and permits the operator to havea clear vision of the work as well as ami pley space within which to manipulate the garment. M

A further object is to provide'agsimpleclos'- ing mechanism which, while being easy of operation, nevertheless ensures the desired pressure when the press is closed, with the added advantage that such pressure may be -readily increased.

1924. Serial No. 715,179.

' counterweight commonly employed in presses of the same general type as herein set forth,

and in its place to utilize springs with the marked advantage that a substantially A- shaped lever for supporting the head may be employed instead of the usual Y-shaped one. Such arrangement conserves floor space and does away with the highly objectionable counterweight.

Again, by the arrangement of th'e piping, water is precluded from wetting the padding on the head and buck while at all times the head and buck are maintained in a heatedI condition, preparatory to ej ecting steam from the face of the head or producing a suctiondown through' the face of the buck.

The main frame of the machine is prefer-l ably formed as a single casting, (see F ig. 8)

comprising a base 1, extending upwardly from. which is a body cruciform in cross section and comprising the webs or elements 2, 3, 4 and 5. Web l2 curves inwardly from the rear of the base and then outwardly where,

at its upper portion it merges into the upstanding relatively heavy member 6, which latter is bifurcated at its upper portion to produce two shaft supporting members 7 andS.

Extending forwardly from the lower portion ofl member 6 is" a flat ltable supporting element 9, the forward edge of which is rabbeted as at 10 to receive an angle bar 11, Figs. 1, 2 and 3,1to which the table 12 is secured, the'table being also bolted to the rear portion of the member 9. Extending upwardly from the forward portion of the table support is a buck supportingl head 13, sustained upon webs 2a, 3a. 4, and 5, which are in aline ment with the lower webs, and of which, in

effect, they are a continuation. Web 2, as will be seen, is provided with a strengthening flange 2b at the rear edge.

A back board 14, preferably produced from sheet metal, extends upwardly from the table support 9 at the rear. edge of the table and thus serves to prevent the garment from dropping back against anything that might soil 1t. The board also stands in front of the swivel steam joints, hereinafter referred to, so that should any leakage occur in such joints, dripping upon the table or goods restin thereon will be precluded.

ecured upon the head 13 is abuck 15 which as usual is chamhered to provide a steam passage therethrough for the purpose of heating the same. Its upper face is likewise perforated, such perforations being in communication with a suction line hereinafter described to create a suction down through the padding and covering secured upon the buck.

Plvotally mounted upon a shaft 16 secured in the bearings 7 and 8 is a lever having the form in general outline of the letter A. The forwardly extending divergent arms 17 and 18 of the lever are upwardly c'urved and are connected by a cross brace 19, the arms extending rearwardly from the brace in substantial parallelism until they pass to the rear of shaft 16 where they curve inwardly to a slight extent, terminating in relatively heavy members 20 and 21 connected at their rear by a heavy cross-piece 22. There is thus produced a rigid lever which is short as compared to the'usual Y-sliaped lever now commonly employed upon presses of the general typeV of the present one.

The forward ends of the arms 17 and 18 are attached directly to the upper face of the head 23, and said ends are each provided with a laterally extending lug 23a upon which are mounted and secured the inner ends of the arms 24 and 25 between which is mounted the handle 26. This arrangement is advantageous in that thenecessity of casting lugs upon the head to which to attach the handles is obviated, a point which simplifies the casting from a foundry standpoint. Moreover, the arms do not become so hot as where they are connected directly to the head.

p Interposed between the rear end of the head carrying lever and lower rear portion of the frame is a thrust toggle which serves to rock the lever and to apply pressure therethrough to the head. Said toggleis composed of an upper pair of 'parallel links 27 and 28, see Fig. 9, connected respectively to the rear portion of the A lever in a manner best illustrated in Figs. 7 andv 9. Each of the sections 20 and 21 of the lever is provided with an opening as 29 into which the upper ends of the links 27 and 28 extend, pins 30 passing through bearings formed in the lever and the upper ends of theli'nks. The links at their the hea lower ends are pin jointed to the upper ends of a Y-shaped link member 3l, the lower portion of which, denoted generally by 32, embodies a compression spring mechanism of the usual type capable of adjustment to vary the len th of the link and the compression of the sprlng. Said lower element is lfulcrulned as at 33 to the lower rear portion of web 2.

The toggle mechanism thus far described will hereinafter be denoted the thrust toggle. The lever is counterbalanced, vor substantially so, by the employment of springs as 34 and 34a and 35 and 35a arranged in pairs.

Upon the outwardly extending end of each pin 30 there is swiveled a short arm 36 havin formed integral therewith a plate 37 to which is attached a pair of plugs 38 upon which the upper ends of the springs are threaded. At their lower ends the springs are similarly secured to a plate 39 through which extends an eye bolt 40 which is engaged with a .hook 41 secured in the base plate 1. l

The springs are stressed to such a degree that the will normally draw the rear end of d, carrying lever downwardly and as a consequence carrythe head upwardly and rearwardly into the position illustratedin Fig. 2.

thrown fully downward.

geo

A fifth spring 42 connected at its lower end to a hook 43 secured to the base extends upwardly and rearwardly and is adj ustablyy To throw the. thrust toggle towards its -v straightened position, a second toggle is employed. With the present press the parts are so proportioned and designed that neither toggle is brou ht to its straight position nor carried beyon the same as has been the common practice heretofore to secure a locking of the press. Under the construction herein, a

separate adjustable lock, shortly to be described, is employed, which not only locks the press closed with the desired pressure but also allows a further pressure to be imposed bybringing the toggles near to the straight line,

a point of manifest advantage.

The second toggle comprises a forward link 46 pivoted at 47 to the forward web 3 of the frame, and a second link 48, the rear endv whereof is bifurcated, see Fig. 9, and piv.

otally connected as at 49 to the lower element of the thrust toggle.

A draw rod 50, adjustable as to length, is pivotally attached to the link.46, `and yto a lever 51 fulcrumed at 52at the-rear portion of the frame, said Iever at its front end `carrying a treadle 53 which extends forwardly of the machine. f

Depression of thetreadle moves the toggles toward their straightened position and as a consequence moves the head from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that in Fig. 1. While this movement may be effected entirely through depression of the treadle, itis Jfound more advantageous to initiate it by drawing down'on the handle 26.

lTreadle 53, see Figs. 4 and 5, is, in the construction illustrated, provided with a rearwardly extending socketed member 54 into which the forward end of lever 51 is passed and secured. Said member 54 is formedat its upper side with a laterally extending boss 55 internally threaded to receive a machine screw 56 upon which is pivotally mounted a latch or locking member 57. Said member at its rear is provided with a downwardly extending arm 58 and a forwardl extending finger or hook 59. At its forwar portion the member 57 is provided with a small pedal 60 and an Aupwardly projecting knob 6l, the latter extending upwardly in a recessed or cut away portion formed in treadle 53, see Fig. 5. Treadles 53'and 60 normally lie in the same plane, pedal 60 being held up by -a spring 62 interposed between lugs 63 and 64 formed respectively upon the treadle 53 and the latch. A laterally projecting web or fiange 65 formed on pedal 60 extends beneath the main treadle and acts as a limiting stop to the upward movement of the latch pedal.

Hook or finger 59 of the latch is designed to co-operate with a locking member which takes the forml of a roller 66 mounted on a headed stud 67 threaded into a block 68 mounted for endwise adjustment in a guide member 69 secured to the base of the machine.

A rod 70 is secured in the upper end of the block 68, said rod extending upwardly and being threaded into a sleeve nut 71 which is mounted for rotation in the table supporting element 9. A knob or hand wheel 72 is secured t'o the upper'end of the nutand a coiled spring 73 is interposed between the lower face of the knob andthe upper face of the element 9.

A rubber bumper 54a, see Fig-6, is mounted in the base beneath the socketed member 54 for the purpose of relieving the operator and the mechanism lfrom shock when the pedal lever is depressedto its limit.

When the treadle lever 51 is depressed in the act of closing the head down on the buck, linger 59 will strike the stud roller, rock the latch, and finally pass beneath the roller in locking engagement therewith. By raising or lowering the stud the degree of pressure which is to be maintained between the head and buck when the press is locked may be readily ldetermined and such pressure maybe increased or lessened by turning the hand wheel 7 2. l

Furthermore, inasmuch as the toggles are not straightened, extra pressure may be had by merely depressing the treadle to its full extent by pressure exerted directly on the4 treadle, normal pressure being again estab. lished by allowing the lever to move upwardly to its locked position.

The latch may be readily released by pressing down upon knob 61 or pedal 60, and to do this it is not necessary that the operator remove his foot from the main treadle 53, such release being had by merely shifting his foot laterally.

The range of movement of the treadle 53 is relatively small and as a consequencethe operator may retain his foot thereon without becoming unduly tired. v

With the present press it is designed to heat both the buck and the head, to eject steam from the perforate or foraminous face of the latter, and to create a suction through the face 'of the buck and the goods lying thereon.

The piping illustrated, working in conjunction with a steam trap, eiects these operations, at the same time ensuring a dry steam supply whereby wetting of the padding on the head and ,buck and spotting of the goods `under treatment is precluded.

Steam is led from any suitable source through a valve 74 to the main supply pipe 75. A T 76 is, connected thereto and a nipple 77 extends therefrom to a hollow cap piece 78 secured upon one of the extending ends of shaft 16, see Fig. 7, a pipe 79 passing axially into the bore of the cap and belng connected into the steam chamber (not shown) of the head 23. Said pipe 79 is v swivelled inthe cap piece 78 so that it may swing up and down withthe head. A similar arrangement is provided for the drain of the heady-such parts being denoted `by the same reference letter kwith the exponent a added thereto. u

Extending down from the cap piece 7 8a 1s a pipe 8O which is connected to a common return or drain 81 provided with a non-return check valve 82` and a hand valve 82a, the pipe leading back to the water space of the boiler.

Extending downwardly from the cap 78 1s a steam line 83, said line passing downwardly, then laterally and thence upwardly where 1t is connected to the steam space of the buck,

llO

closed through a stem93 carrying a handle 94 `at its forward end. .Line 85 has connected into it a depending pipe 95 leading to a steamv trap 96, the discharge line 97 whereof may lead to any suitable source as the usual bucket J employed in conjunction with the boiler from which the steam is taken.v A cross connection 98 leads from line 97 to line 81, said con-v nect-ionbeing provided with a valve 99.

vThe usual head valve 100 which controls vthe passage of steam from the steam space in the head to the lower foraminous or perforate face thereof is present.

It is `thought that the operation of the various steaming agencies will be understood from the foregolng; suiice it to say that the head and buck are connected in parallel toy the boiler so that when the blow oil' valve is operatedI both the head and buck are cleared of Water. This allows of quick heating and prevents water from nding its way to the padding. The steam line 85 leading to the vacuum valve 86 ends at the same and water would ordinarily become trapped therein with the result that if said valve is employed as a steam valve for the buck (valve 92 at such time being closed) water would be forced up `into the buck and through the openings therein With a consequent wetting of the padding and a staining of the-garment imposed thereon. The draining of this line through the steam trap 96'ensures live steam at all times in the line and does away with all possible wetting.

While the head carrying lever has been re'- ferred to as a substantially A-shaped lever, utilization of that designation is not intended as a limitation but merely to distinguish it from the ordinary Y-shaped lever which has a relatively long rearwardly projecting end.

As before noted, the press opens up wide, and this is due primarily to the fact that the rear end of the head carrying lever straddles the bifurcated lever supporting member, that the links attached thereto and which form a part of the-thrust toggle swin to each side of the web 2; 'that the lower -shaped link passes in part to each side of the web, and that the actuating toggle is located to one side of the main frame or web. Thus, While the press provides for wide opening, it is nevertheless substantial and rugged, and easy of operation.

What I claim is:

1. In a garment press'the combination of co-operative pressing elements; toggle mechanism for bringing said elements into pressing relation; a lever for actuating the same; adjustable automatic locking means serving to hold the press in closed position with the toggle mechanism short of a straightened position; and means independent 4of 'the lever and parts carried thereby for adjusting the effective position ofsaid locking means.

,2; In a garment press the combination of co-operative pressing elements; operator operatedmechanism for bringing said elements intopressing relation; an automatic lock for holding theY press in closed position; and means, under the control of the operator and independent of the closing mechanism for adjlpsting the point of engagement of said loc 3. In a garment press the combination of co-operative pressing elements; toggle methanism for bringing said elements into pressing relation, said elements effecting a pressing action of the press short of the straightx ened position Vof the toggles; adjustable automatic locking means serving to hold the toggle mechanism when the press is closed; and

means under the control of the operator and independent of the closing mechanism for adjusting the point'of engagement of said locking means.

4. In a garment press the combination of v v co-operative pressing elements; toggle mechanism for bringing said elements into press- 5. In a garment press the combination of' co-operative pressing members; treadle actuated means serving to bring said members into pressing relation; a lock acting to hold the treadle in its depressed position; and means independent of the treadle and under control of the operator for regulating the effective locking positionl of the lock.

6. In a garment-press the combination of co-operative pressing members; treadle actuated means serving to bring said members into pressing relation; and a lock acting` to hold said treadle means against opening movement while 4still permitting further actuation of the treadle to produce an increased pressure between the pressing members.

7. In a garment press the combination of co-operative pressing members; treadle actuated means serving `to bring said members into, pressing relation; an adjustable lock acting to hold said treadle means'against opening movement while still permitting further actuation of the treadle to produces an increased pressure between the pressing members; and means under control .of the operator for adjusting the effect-ive locking position of said lock.

8. In a garment press, the combination of co-operating pressing elements; treadle actuated means for moving said elements into of the operator for ad- .lil

9. In a garment press, the combination of co-operating pressing elements;treadle actuj ated means for. moving said elements into pressingrelation; .a latch carried by the treadle; means carried by a fixed portion of the press acting to engage the latch and to hold the treadle against release movement; and manually adjustable means for positioning the aforesaid means and thereby varying the pressure which is effected when the latch is locked.

10. In a garment press, the combination of co-operating pressing elements; a treadle lever; means actuated upon a Vdepression of the treadle to move said elements into pressing relation; a latch pivoted to the lever adjacent the treadle; a member located in line with'the latch to engage and hold the same when the treadle lever is depressed; and means under control of the operator for adjusting the position of said member.

11. In a garment press, the combination of co-operating pressing elements; a treadle lever; means actuated by said lever to effect a pressing action between said elements; a spring actuated latch carried by the lever at the treadle portion thereof; a stud extending outwardly into the path of the latch when the lever is depressed; and means under control of the operator for raising `or lowering said stud.

12. 4In a garment press,- the combination of a frame; co-operatingpressing elements mounted l"'tliereon; a table carried by the frame; a treadle lever fulcrumed on the frame; means actuated upon depression of the lever to move the pressing elementsinto pressing relation; a spring actuated latch carried by the lever adjacent the treadle; a roller stud standing in the path of the latch;

and means extending upwardly from said stud 4to a point above the table for effecting a raising and lowering adjustment of the stu n 13. In a garment press, the combination of a frame; co-operating pressing elements mounted thereon; a table carried by the frame; a treadle lever fulcrumed on the frame; means actuated upon depression Iof the lever to move the pressing elements` into pressing) relation; a spring actuated latch carried open-sided ide extending upwardly from the frame a jacent the outer end of the lever; a block mounted for vertical adjustment in .said guide; a roller stud extending laterally from said block, outwardly through the y the lever adjacent the treadle; an

guide; a rod secured in the upper end of the p'ortion ofthe frame; and a hand nut having a threaded engagement with the upper threaded end of the rod and bearing at its lower face upon a fixed portion of the frame.

14. In a garment press the combination of a frame; a buck mounted thereon; a lever fulcrumed on the frame, the fulcrum point being located relatively close to the rear end thereof; a head carried by the forward end of the lever; a thrust toggle interposed between the rear end of the lever and the frame, the upper element of said toggle comprising a pair of parallel links, and the lower element having vthe form of-a Y, to the upper end whereof said links are attached; and means under the control of the operator for moving said toggle towards its straightened position.

15. In a garment press the combination of a frame; a buck mounted thereon; a lever fulcrumed on the frame, the fulcrum point being located relatively close to the rear end thereof; a head carried by the forward end ofthe lever; a thrust toggle interposed between the rear end of the lever and the frame, the upper elementl of said toggle comprising a pair of parallel links, and the lower element having the form of a Y, to the upper end whereof said links are attached; a second toggle, one element whereof is secured to the Y-shaped element of the first toggle, and the other to a fixed portion of the frame; and a' tension and forming the lever fulcrum; a'

pair of links, the upper ends whereof extend respectively into the openings aforesaid; stub shafts extending through `the upper ends of the links and the lever; a Y-shaped link fulcrumed at its lower end on the frame, with the upper ends pivoted to the lower ends respectively of the other links; means for actuating the toggle thus produced; and springs secured to the stub shafts and to a fixed portion of the frame.

17. In a garment press, the combination of a main frame, comprisin a base, a body member extending upwar ly therefrom' and avertically disposed rearwardly extending web merging at its upper end into a lever supporting element; a uck mounted on the forward portion of the body member; an

open leverstraddling and fulcrumed on the .supporting element; a toggle interposed between the rear portion o the lever and the base of the machine, said toggle comprising a pair of links connected to the side elements of the lever and lying in planes to each side of the web; and a lowe Y-shaped link to the upper end whereof t e lower ends of the links aforesaid are connected; a second'toggle located to one side of the web and connected at one end to a fixed portion of the frame and at its other end to the Y-shaped link; a treadle lever; and connections between said lever and said second toggle.

In testimony whereof I have'` signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT E. PAGE. 

